June 30, 2025
Paul Thagard
The chapter uses the experience of 'cringe' as a contemporary example to explore compound consciousness, showing how complex experiences unify emotion, perception, and internal sensations. The author introduces the Neural Binding and Coherence (NBC) theory, which uses neural representation, binding, and coherence to explain diverse conscious phenomena. These mechanisms form metaphorical rungs on a ladder to consciousness, connecting biological foundations to abstract thought. The chapter introduces four types of consciousness—external perceptions, internal sensations, emotions, and abstract thought—and discusses their integration in compound experiences. The theory aims to illuminate the richness and mechanisms of conscious experience.
Dreams, Jokes, and Songs
July 31, 2025
Paul Thagard
Artificial intelligence, including models like ChatGPT, is unlikely to achieve human-like consciousness because its neural network structure differs fundamentally from biological neural processes. Using the Neural Representation, Binding, and Coherence (NBC) theory, the chapter explains that current AI excels in linguistic, abstract reasoning, and multimodal tasks but lacks sensory and emotional inputs essential for consciousness. Ethical considerations are raised about conscious AI, including rights, potential advantages over humans, and risks in adversarial contexts. The chapter advocates for measures to prevent AI from developing consciousness, citing ethical, practical, and existential implications.
Dreams, Jokes, and Songs
July 31, 2025
Paul Thagard
A critical examination of neuroscientific and philosophical theories of consciousness finds that leading models—global workspace, information integration, and predictive processing—explain some aspects but neglect qualitative experience and fail to offer a comprehensive account. Philosophical perspectives such as dualism, panpsychism, and functionalism are critiqued as speculative and empirically unsupported. The chapter proposes 'coherent materialism' as a refined mind–body approach emphasizing time, space, energy, and historical constraints. The Neural Representation, Binding, and Coherence (NBC) theory is presented as superior, integrating insights from other theories while addressing their shortcomings and providing robust explanations and predictions about conscious experience.